Do You Have to Be Stupid to Join a Cult?

(Cedars' vlog no. 319) While it's easy for outsiders to assume extreme gullibility to be a factor when a friend or relative gets involved in a coercive, fundamentalist group, the reasons are often more relatable than you might think.

#cult #undueinfluence

[david_r_morgan]

The most common tactic they use to rope people in is undoubtedly tragic events in people’s lives. Many people are more receptive to ideas like a resurrection when they are vulnerable and/or in grief. Anyone can become drawn into this, no matter their level of intelligence.

[jenloveslife]

I love how gentle and kind you speak of this. Thank you for having a big heart- for that I admire you!

[cattflap]

I wouldn't say I was stupid to be caught up in it. I just over estimated my own critical thinking and vastly underestimated how well trained the witnesses are at deceptive reasoning.

[lEAh]

My non-JW husband is one of those people who found it obvious that the JWs are cultish at the least. He was the first person I ever heard refer to the ministry as recruitment. That’s exactly what it is!!!

[ritamoon]

SCAM is the perfect word. My mother was talked into this by her sister. She then guilted me and my brother into joining. I never fully believed and still lived the life I wanted. A double life. I did this for about 3 years and saw enough to drop out easily.

[grannykiminalaska]

Thank you for putting this out. Almost anyone can be sucked into a cult if approached at the right moment

[musikgalaxy]

I really ask myself so many times, how I was so stupid many years ago. Glad to be out of this evil cult! Thanks a lot for your Videos Lloyd, they are very very helpful.

[steveraphael]

So glad you never brought a single person in but I'd be prepared to wager you've helped bring a few out .

[reddog]

My parents joined the JW's in the late 70's. At the time they were in their 20's going thru a very bad time. They were given a lot of "love" and support from the local congregation and the couple they studied with. This lead to them embracing the belief completely they liked how they used the bible to prove their beliefs and as mentioned all of the help they received. My mother to this day still says it saved her life . I do see tho that currently my parents hardly ever if never goes out in field service so i would imagine their zeal is fading to some degree. More and more seeing the young in this cult leaving and the hanger on's being those of advanced age.

[timpgpilot]

I was a born in, it’s not my fault and I’m not stupid!

[pacvale]

Keep it up Lloyds. News from African continent: You are an inspirations to African JWs that are waking up!!!

[dr.richmann]

Lloyd, this is 'food at the proper time.' Thank you.

[KevinRHenke]

Sometimes you're just born into one.

[reddog]

When one realizes they were in a cult it is much harder to come to terms with than actually being within it. The deprogramming process is the hardest part. As most born in's know it's hell to leave these cults.

[lydiakarinacamposrico]

Sometimes you come from an upbringing where you were discouraged to think for yourself and mine yourself esteem and you are looking for an external source of guidance. You find this group of people that seem to have it together and are living good lives. Then you cling on to it until you wake up from it.

[willyb]

Very well put and accurate information Lloyd. I was born in and despite being an otherwise reasonable person and able to use critical thinking skills in my life I still believed that God would sort out this wicked system and destroy the wicked any day now! At age 49 I left for good but it still took until just a few years ago that I truly woke up to TTATT. Thanks for all you do Lloyd, it's a great help to so many to have a reliable source of logic.

[MrBrianNZ]

My wife started studying after being door knocked in 1979. She was a new Mum, only, isolated away from family and threatening about the state of the world. The study was with a very homely, middle aged lady and her Grandfatherly husband. They gave her “ biblical explanations” just as Lloyd says, that along with absolute love bombing got me along to meetings & study. In truth I never accepted I would be “saved” & see a paradise earth but loved my family and wanted that for them. We were all baptised and therefor safe, but you cannot survive as a Brother by faking it and within a couple of years it took my greatest effort to not become inactive. This put great pressure on the marriage that in the end it could not take. Eventually pressure from Elders, stress related illness & feeling misunderstood and pressured I left the witness’s, or “faded” really, eventually my wife and children did the same and my children who were now 15 & 13 were left confused and hurt . It made it look like we lied to them, made them take stands at school for no reasons, no birthday or Christmas celebrations. Watchtower put a wedge between us all. Our marriage broke down, I was estranged from my son who has a problem with religion even now and I hope, if anything that at the time we thought it absolutely the right thing to do, to bring him up hopefully to be saved at the imminent Armageddon.

[debibrown]

No, just gullible..or caught in a bad time in life. The hard part is leaving and surviving the experience.

[kendrabond]

It is easy to join but hard to leave....

[cleareyesandopenmind]

It's not as simple as that.... Yes, cults don't present themselves as cults.